Copy files to second hard disk

[Gringo2]

I periodically copy my files from the C drive to a second internal hard dirve
using the Windows Explorer window and simply right clicking the directory I
want to copy and then pasting to the duplicate dircectory on hard drive 2.
This time some of the files are telling me 'access denied....' I'm the sole
user of this computer. Those problem files cannot be accessed from the C
dirve either but a few I have tried can be accessed on the backup drive,
e.g., an Adobe .pdf file.
An when it does encounter a file that it can't access, Windows won't
continue and stops the copying process for all the rest of the files.
What is wrong?

 

[John John - MVP]

I periodically copy my files from the C drive to a second internal hard dirve
using the Windows Explorer window and simply right clicking the directory I
want to copy and then pasting to the duplicate dircectory on hard drive 2.
This time some of the files are telling me 'access denied....' I'm the sole
user of this computer. Those problem files cannot be accessed from the C
dirve either but a few I have tried can be accessed on the backup drive,
e.g., an Adobe .pdf file.
An when it does encounter a file that it can't access, Windows won't
continue and stops the copying process for all the rest of the files.
What is wrong?

It most likely means that the file is being used by another process or
that you do no have sufficient permissions to access the file. Which
Windows XP version are you using, Home or Pro?

John

 

[db]

are the files assessable in
safe mode.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Mark Adams]

I periodically copy my files from the C drive to a second internal hard dirve
using the Windows Explorer window and simply right clicking the directory I
want to copy and then pasting to the duplicate dircectory on hard drive 2.
This time some of the files are telling me 'access denied....' I'm the sole
user of this computer. Those problem files cannot be accessed from the C
dirve either but a few I have tried can be accessed on the backup drive,
e.g., an Adobe .pdf file.
An when it does encounter a file that it can't access, Windows won't
continue and stops the copying process for all the rest of the files.
What is wrong?

How to take ownership of a file or a folder in Windows XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

 

[Gringo2]

Mark Adams, thank you. I went to that link and followed the instructions to
take ownership, unchecked the Simple File Sharing and then went to the
folder, properties, security and took ownership of it. It still will not
allow me access. As I said earlier I am the Administrator and the only user
of this computer. Also, on the previous backup to hard disk 2 some of the
folders and files are accessible from it that are not accessible from the
main drive, # 1. And I am using XP Pro. Seems strange to me what is
happening on some of these files and folders.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I periodically copy my files from the C drive to a second internal hard
dirve
using the Windows Explorer window and simply right clicking the directory
I
want to copy and then pasting to the duplicate dircectory on hard drive 2.
This time some of the files are telling me 'access denied....' I'm the
sole
user of this computer. Those problem files cannot be accessed from the C
dirve either but a few I have tried can be accessed on the backup drive,
e.g., an Adobe .pdf file.
An when it does encounter a file that it can't access, Windows won't
continue and stops the copying process for all the rest of the files.
What is wrong?

It means that something has the files open and won't give them up. You
might find that "something" turns out to be the Search Indexing Service, but
you need to determine what the process is and stop it.

The Windows copy and paste is not very good for this purpose, for the reason
that you describe: when it runs into a problem, it just gives up.
Consider other utilities, such as the older FileSync or RichCopy.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Mark Adams, thank you. I went to that link and followed the instructions
to
take ownership, unchecked the Simple File Sharing and then went to the
folder, properties, security and took ownership of it. It still will not
allow me access. As I said earlier I am the Administrator and the only
user
of this computer.

I hope you're not saying that the only user account on the system is the
Administrator account.

Also, on the previous backup to hard disk 2 some of the
folders and files are accessible from it that are not accessible from the
main drive, # 1.

They are available on the backup, but not as the originals? The originals
are perhaps being used by another process, like an indexer.

And I am using XP Pro. Seems strange to me what is
happening on some of these files and folders.

Are those files being indexed?

 

[Gringo2]

I am using XP Pro.
The files are definitely not being used by any thing, they are data files
for Word, Excel and Adobe, etc.
I am the only user and am the administrator and the one who made the files
or downloaded them.
I just rebooted in Safe Mode and still no go.
Ideas? As I said some that were already copied to the second hard disk are
openable on that disk but not on the original.

 

[Gringo2]

Thanks I forgot about the indexing program and others that I'm not even aware
of. I suppose those type programs are started in Safe Mode too?
This procedure has let me backup like this in the past but I suppose it's
like when something breaks and worked yesterday. It eventually happens.
I'll try another method and thanks again.
--
Jerry
emachine, T2798


:

 

[Gringo2]

PK, I downloaded and used the RichCopy and it works much better, especially
that it goes on to copy the other available files. It did one strange thing
in that it ignored a subdirectory, e.g., I have Adobe files as a subdirectory
under Files and then Taxes under Adobe. It did not copy the Taxes folder and
it the backup disk it was completely empty. But Explorer allowed me to copy
the whole directory as I wanted. The RichCopy noted that access was denied.
Any more ideas or are the computer demons out to get me?
--
Jerry
emachine, T2798


:

 

[db]

if you stated that the originals
are no go's but their copies
are,

then it might be user privileges
and perhaps the copies are
read only.

try right clicking on a file and
access the properties,

are they read only?

-------------

the other the scenario may be
the anti virus program is not
allowing any changes.

but other than the above,
I don't have any other ideas.

my apologies.
--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Paul Randall]

You might try creating a Windows boot CD, such as described at UBCD4WIN.com,
and boot from it and run RoboCopy, a free download from Microsoft. I
believe that at bootup of the CD, you will be a super user and be able to
copy everything. And of course, nothing on the hard drive will be 'in use'.
But this just gets your stuff copied and doesn't solve the problem of why
things won't copy normally.

-Paul Randall

 

[Gringo2]

Well, I guess there's no solution to my problem. It's understandable that
the certain files won't copy. The primary question is that they won't even
open from the original location on C. How did they get protected or whatever
they are on the C drive when they were once good?